Go For It Guardiola – Why This Veteran Brazilian Is Just What Manchester City Need This Summer

Why Dani Alves Is The Man For Manchester City This Summer

After a mediocre season that ended with Manchester City finishing 4th place, Pep Guardiola is not ready to go trophyless for another season and is making some wholesale changes to his squad at the Etihad. He has already completed a couple of first team signings for the next season and is ready to land a couple more in the upcoming days.

One such player extensively linked with a move to Manchester City is Juventus fullback, Dani Alves. The Brazilian star had a fruitful time at the Camp Nou under Guardiola and it is understood that City are favourites to land the defender who has now been released by the Italian champions.

His contract with the club runs down after the end of the next season but the CEO of the Italian club has now revealed that Juventus are ready to let him leave this summer. And the Daily Mail have wasted no time in claiming that Manchester City will complete his signing in the upcoming days. So is he the right man for the English side?

Having already proven himself in Spain and Italy, Alves is easily one of the best, if not the best right-backs in Europe at the moment. With more than 300 La Liga appearances and 100 national team appearances, the former Barcelona man is one of the most experienced players in his position and is a short-term fix to the problem at the Etihad.

Capable of playing as a wing-back or as an outright winger if needed, Alves is an attacking fullback with discipline of the highest order. His work rate is exceptional and even at the age of 34, is a constant presence at both ends of the field.

He can dribble past opponents like they are not there while his vision and technique allow him to create enough chances to make a genuine playmaker jealous. He is strong and still athletic and there is no doubt that he will be a hit even in England. He may not play every game next season at his age, but Pep may use him in the Champions League to establish City as a European superpower next season.

The likes of Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta are already out of the club, leaving City with no recognised right-back in the senior squad. Fernandinho did a decent job in that position but cannot be the first choice next season while Jesus Navas, the only other option for City last season in that role, has also been allowed to leave the club.

Guardiola also wants Kyle Walker at the Etihad and if he can add Alves and Walker to the squad, he will be able to solve the right-back problem for what is going to be an important season for the club and the manager.